Mail-bag catcher.



W. H. RAYMOND.

MAIL BAG CATCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

I 3 a 2 SHEETS-S ETNTTE STATES PATENT @FFTQFQ.

WENDELL H. RAYMOND, or SPENCER, new YORK.

MAIL-BAG CATGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed May 11, 1912. Serial No. 696,589.

Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bag catchers.

It is customary in delivering mail from the mail cars to throw the mail upon the station platforms and other nearby locations. This is very disadvantageous owing to the fact that when the contents of the mail bag are of a perishable nature they usually become broken or otherwise injured.

The object of this invention is to overcome this disadvantage by providing an apparatus into which the mail bag can be thrown without breaking or otherwise injuring the contents thereof.

Another object of this invention is provision of a mail bag catcher of this character which can be transported to any desired 10-,

cality and securely retained in its proper position against undesired displacement.

A further object of this invention is toimprove and simplify devices of this character, rendering them comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use and readily operated.

With the above and other objects in view this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formations, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fullv described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View thereof. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the means for holding the device against displacement; and Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional View illustrating the method of supporting the axle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings of similar characters of reference, the numeral 10 designates generally my improved mail bag catcher which consists of the opposite spaced side members 11 formed from the upper and lower bars 12 which are connected at their extremities by suit-able couplings 13 to the opposite end bars let.

The lower bars 12 adjacent their terminals are connected by the transverse end bars 15, while the rear extremities of the upper of the rails 12, are connected by an upper transverse end bar 16.

The side frames produced by joining the bars 12 31116114: are closed by reticulated side coverings 16 while the end frame produced by the bars 14, 15 and 16 is closed by the end covering 17. The lower frame produced by the lower bars 12 and the transverse bars 15 s closed by a reticulated covering 18 which is bowed downwardly at its central point from the free edges thereof as clearly shown throughout the various figures of the drawmgs.

Downwardly inclined side members 19 are connected to the lower bars 12 adjacent their terminals and are centrally equipped with bearings 20 in which is journaled an axle 21 which supports upon its opposite ends the wheels 22.

The end bars 14 at the rear of the apparatus are extended downwardly as at 23 flush with the lower sides of the wheels 22 and are offset inwardly as at 24 for engagement with the spikes 25 by means of which the device is held against any undesired displacement in its proper position. Similar spikes 26 engage the rims of the wheels 22 and also assist in holding the mail bag catcher against movement.

Inclined braces 27 are connected to the intermediate portion of the rear bar 15 and at their outer terminals, to the extensions 23 of the bars 14, while these said braces 27 are connected to the bars lat at their juncture with the adjacent bar 15 by upwardly inclined rods 28 which support the end grips 29 by means of which the mail bag catcher can be transported to any desired locality when the spikes 25 and 26 are removed.

A clip 30 is attached to the front bar 15 adjacent one end thereof and has pivotally connected thereto a movable support 31 which may be swung downwardly to engage the ground and hold the forward end of the apparatus against any undesired tilting when the mail bag is thrown therein. This support 31 can be swung downwardly when it is desired to support the device as shown in Fig. 2 and retained in parallel relation to the adjacent bar 15 by means of a catch 82.

It should be understood in this connection that various minor changes in the details of construction can be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

From the foregoing disclosures taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be manifest that a mail bag catcher of the nature described is provided which will fulfil all the necessary requirements of such a device.

Having thus fully described this invention what I claim is new and desire to protect by Letter-s Patent is:

1. A mail bag catcher consisting of paral lel side bars connected by end bars and producing side frames, covering for said side frames, bars connecting the side frames and producing bottom and end frames, coverings for said bottom and end frames, extensions formed upon certain of the end bar-s, wheels supporting the mail bag catcher and means engaging the extensions and the wheels for preventing the displacement of the mail bag catcher.

2. A mail bag catcher comprising parallel side bars and vertical connecting bars, said bars producing side frames, transverse bars connecting the side frames and producing a bottom and :an end frame, coverings connecting said frames, certain of said vertical bars being extended, wheels supporting said mail bag catcher said extensions being offset and means engaging said offsets and wheels for preventing the displacement of the .mail bag catcher.

3. A mail bag catcher comprising parallel side bars, end bars connecting sa1d slde bars, transverse bars connectmg the side bars and end bars, said bars producing opposite side frames and bottom frame and an end frame, reticulated coverings for the said frames, angle bars secured to the frames, bearings supported by the angle bars, an axle journaled in said bearings, wheels carried by the axle, certain of the said end bars being extended to the lower level of the wheels, said end ba-rs being offset at their lower extended terminals, fastening means engaging the offsets and the Wheels, braces connecting one of the transverse bars and the extensions of the end bars, handles connected to the braces and the end bars and -a rod pivoted to the opposite end of the bottom frame.

4. The combination in a mail bag catcher of a plurality of connected frames, wheel-s supporting said frames, rigid bars extendfrom one end of the frame, said bars being offset at their lower terminals, fastenin-g means engaging the offsets and the Wheels, a supporting bar pivoted to the opposit-e end of one of the frames and means for detachably connecting the free end of said bar to one of said frames.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WENDELL H. RAYMOND.

VY'itnesses WILLIA E. RAYMGN'D, CARL SrnENBURo.

Copies of this patent may .be obtained .for five tents e a-0.1 addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0; 

